On the go and no time to finish that story right now? Your News is the place for you to save content to read later from any device. Register with us and content you save will appear here so you can access them to read later.

Cases aired so far include the murders of Auckland woman Carmen Thomas, Christchurch schoolgirl Marie Davis and Alicia McCallion who was killed in the sleepout of her family home by her ex-boyfriend.

In a court document, the Forensics NZ producer revealed that the episode on Reid would look at crime scene samples including finger and palm prints, hair, blood and the "extraction of DNA from a rope" used in one of the attacks on the women.

Today Justice Kit Toogood heard from Reid and South Pacific Pictures about the show.

Court documents released to the Herald reveal that Reid intends to reopen his case and seek a further appeal or retrial.

He is arguing that the show could present a "real risk of prejudging matters or issues that are to be imminently before the courts especially in the event that [Reid's] appeals are allowed in whole or part thereby resulting in a retrial".

"I have always maintained my innocence in relation to the Christchurch matter and the Dunedin matter," Reid said in an affidavit.

He was convicted and sentenced for the rapes and murder in 2008.

In 2009 an appeal against his conviction was dismissed in the Court of Appeal.

In 2012, the Supreme Court also dismissed Reid's application to appeal further.

But he is hopeful that a new bid for freedom will be successful.

The affidavit reveals that Reid's new lawyer Jeremy Bioletti has been awarded legal aid to work on the appeal, which will hinge on forensic evidence.

Reid said it took him "several years" to obtain the forensic file about his case and Bioletti had recently "extensively reviewed it".

"A review of this disclosure indicates that there is outstanding material not disclosed still, and there is material which requires further analysis," Reid said.

"The forensic evidence relied on by the Crown is contentious and subject to my appeal."

In his affidavit, Bioletti said the "core issues" of the intended appeal were cell phone evidence and a hair found in Agnew's vehicle, which DNA testing revealed was Reid's0.

Bioletti said he wanted to have the cellphone evidence examined by an independent expert, and that there were "chain of custody issues" with the hair.

He said there were also "core forensic issues" in the Dunedin case.

"My work as counsel in formulating Mr Reid's fresh appeal is well under way," Bioletti's affidavit said.

"There are many other issues in the case that are not identified. It is extremely complex.

"I cannot be sure what [South Pacific Pictures] has in mind in broadcasting a documentary but I apprehend from what is available on [its] website that this may risk not only the appeal circumstances for Mr Reid, but also, were he successful in his appeal, any retrial to result from the appeal."

Reid told the court that he had not yet exhausted his appeal rights, and any programme screened that focused on the forensic case against him "will directly jeopardise" his right to a fair appeal.

"And my rights to a fair and impartial trial will be void," he said.

However Simon Mount, the lawyer for South Pacific Pictures, which plans to air the second series of Forensics NZ as early as this month, said Reid had in fact exhausted all of his appeal options.

Mount said the fact that Reid had no appeals filed in any New Zealand court meant the programme could not impact on his fair trial rights.

He said the only realistic option Reid had left in terms of appealing was to apply for a Royal Prerogative of Mercy.

There has been no application for such proceedings.

"[Reid] holds out hope that nearly nine years after court of appeal upheld his conviction, counsel will find a way to reopen those convictions," Mount told the court today.

He said although it was "technically possible" for someone in Reid's position to reopen a conviction - it was "highly speculative as to whether there will be another appeal or a retrial".

"There is no application before any court in relation to his convictions and he has exhausted all of his appeal rights," Mount explained.

"For that reason, [Reid] falls well short of establishing an arguable claim that the case is sub judice, or any other basis for relief."

Rapist and murderer Liam Reid is trying to block a television production company from airing a documentary about his offending. NZ Herald photograph

They were not able to have any contact during the High Court hearing but spoke briefly to each other.

Reid addressed her as "Mrs Reid" and as he left the court shouted out "love you".

He had earlier tried to prevent media photographing him in court, saying he did not want his image reflected in such circumstances.

However Justice Toogood allowed the Herald to film and photograph the convicted murderer.

This is not the first time Reid has taken action to try to prevent television shows airing information about his case.

In December 2016 he went to the High Court to try to stop TVNZ broadcasting a show about him.

Radio New Zealand reported Reid told the court that a programme they featured on their website and which could be viewed by its audience on demand, contained inaccuracies that could affect his right to a fair trial.

He maintains he never raped or killed Agnew and that he has been wrongly convicted.